Black Hawk Dancers Soar to Nationals

For the first time ever, Bloomfield Hills High School’s Black Hawk dancers are heading to the national stage! The team will compete at the Universal Dance Association’s National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida. 

Varsity will compete in the poms and jazz categories, while junior varsity will perform a pom routine only. Founder of the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders, former Lions Director of Entertainment, and former Pistons Director of Entertainment, and inaugural dancer, Coach Rebecca Smoker described, “The pom routine is based on our ‘Black Hawk Strong’ motto, and the mix of the songs used focuses on strength and hard work. Our jazz routine is based on a love story that must end for self-preservation. Both routines have evolved as the dancers mastered skills and put their own personalities into all the choreography.”

The dancers worked extremely hard to reach this point. The team not only added strength training and cross training to their high energy rehearsals, but they also focused on the fundamentals of dance technique to create strong team synchronization. Over the course of the season, the team’s mental and physical athleticism grew significantly. Head Coach Mackenzie Wass, a current Detroit Lions Cheerleader, leads coaches Smoker and Sara Taub in guiding and training the varsity girls. Coach Jacki Winchester-Jones, also a Lions Cheerleader, and Parker McCarron head up the JV team. They all have one goal, “Our mission at Nationals this year is to not only build an indelible team bond, but to do our personal best as individuals and as a team. The competition will be fierce. We’re looking to dance with heart and soul and savor every moment of competition.”

On Sunday, February 1, the team hosted a showcase for families and friends. The audience clapped and cheered as the girls performed their energetic routines. Varsity captains Fiona Gross (grade 12) and Payton Renusch (grade 12) were all smiles as they complimented their teammates, “Our team has grown so much and so fast,” said Renusch. Gross added, “We’ve come such a long way and I’m so proud of my teammates. We’ve put in extra work and early morning practices and it’s all paid off.” The Black Hawk dancers are excited to reach a new level of competition, and BHS is ready to cheer them on as they reach a new milestone for their program!